Commenting on the Department for Education’s response to the
Education Select Committee report on primary
assessment, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary
of the National Education Union, said:
“NEU members will take the Department’s response to the Education
Committee’s report with a large pinch of salt.
“The Department describes a school system which few who work in
schools will recognise.
“It says that ‘all schools are required to teach a broad and
balanced curriculum’ – but sets aside the evidence that the
pressures of testing are driving schools to narrow the
curriculum.
“It says that ‘assessment should not cause children stress or
anxiety’ – and ignores the growing concerns of parents and
educationalists about the effects of a test-driven system on
mental health and well-being.
“It says that ‘KS2 results should be just a starting point for a
conversation about a school’s performance’ – and forgets the
prominence that these results have in league tables and in
Ofsted’s data tables.
“Those who work in primary education would like to see the
Department honestly recognise and face up to the problems which a
politically-driven system has created for schools. They
look forward to seeing the Education Committee probing the claims
of the Department, and asking the hard questions that need to be
asked if we are to achieve a better system.”
